Spring-shackle



J. E. RYAN.

SPRING SHACKLE.

APPLICATlQN FILED MAY 2, 1919.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET J. E. RYAN.

SPRING SHACKLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 19-19.

Patented N 0V. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN E. RYAN, 0F BOSTON,'MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-SHACKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed May 2, 1919. Serial No. 294,167.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. RYAN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Spring-Shackles, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompany ing drawings, formlng a part of this specification, inexplaining its nature.

The present invention relates to an im proved shackle of that typeespecially adapted to form a connection between the spring and the frameof a motor veh cle.

The following are among the objects of my invention :To provide ashackle which can be easily applied to, or removed from, the vehicle; ashackle in which special provision is made for the proper lubrication ofall joints; a shackle in which all binding between it and the spring orframe is entirely eliminated, thereby insuring freedom of action; and ashackle, also, in which wearin arts may be employed.

y invention can best be seen and understood by reference to thedrawings, in which the shackle is shown applied to an automo: bile, ofwhich those portions only of the frame and spring are shown with whichthe shackle is designed to connect, and in Which I Figure 1 is a view inside elevation.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the shackle.

Fig. 5 is a section on the --line 55 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 is a section onthe line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents the frame, 2 the sprlng and 3 theshackle connecting the spring to the frame and forming thesubject-matter of my invention.

The shackle 3 comprises spaced side bars 4 and 5, respectively. Theseare relatively short bars parallelly arranged n spaced relationship toone another and are preferably made rectangular in cross section.

The bars 4 and 5 are rigidly connected and held in spaced relationshipto one another by a bolt and nut connection with an interposed sleeve. 6represents the shank of the bolt and 7 its head. bolt is passed throughboth bars at about the middle of their extension and the head of thebolt is socketed in the outer side of one of the bars to keep the boltfrom turning. As shown in the drawings, the head of the bolt iscontained within a socket 8 formed in the outer side of the bar 4. 9 isthe nut arranged upon the end of the shank of the bolt projectingthrough and beyond'the bar 5, the nut tightening against the outer sideof the bar 5 though in the present instance directly against a clip 10through which the shank of the bolt extends and which is interposedbetween the nut and the side of the bar. The clip 10 is provided withflanges l1 turned to lap by the sides of the bar. and other flanges 12turned to lap by the sides of the nut, the flanges thereby operating tokee 3 the nut from turning.

rranged upon that portion of the shank of the bolt running between thetwo bars is a sleeve 18. \Vhen the nut is tightened on the shank of thebolt the two bars are drawn into engagement with the opposite ends ofthe sleeve which acts to maintain the bars in proper spaced relationshipto one another and also to assist in maintaining a proper parallelismbetween the bars.

Extending from the inner sides adjacent the ends of the respective barsand at right angles thereto are cylindrical sets of studs 15 and 16,respectively, which provide-bearings as will later be explained. Thestuds are preferably integral with the bars. The set of studs 15 extendin precise alinement with one another, and likewise the set of studs 16,both sets of studs being parallelly arranged with relation to eachother.The length of the studs is such that when the two bars are connected asabove described a space or clearance will separate the ends of each setof studs. One of each of the respective sets of studs is made hollowwith an opening .18 through it and this opening is extended through thebar to which the stud is secured whereby access may be had from outsidethe bars to the spaces between the ends of the respective sets of studs.

Arranged upon each of the studs of the The shank of the respective setsof studs is a sleeve 20.

as wear will come over a relatively large bear- Each of these sleeves isprovided with an annular flange 21 at its outer ends. The studs providebearings for the sleeves which are capable of turning upon the studs.

The ends of the spring and frame, which are connected by the shackle,are connected to the sleeves on the respective sets of studs, the end 22of the spring being secured to the sleeves on the set of studs 15 andthe end 23 of the frame to the sleeves on the set of the studs 16. Theends of the spring and frame may have a tight connection with thesleeves though preferably a loose fit with capability of turningthereon. When the sleeves are fixed to the ends of the spring and framethen they provide bushings therefor, the ends of the spring and framethen turning directly upon the studs.

It will be seen from the above described construction that the spacesbetween the ends of the sets of studs 15 and 16 are in directcommunication with the joints between the studs and sleeves 20 upon themand in communication. also, with the joints between the sleeves 20 andthe ends of the spring and frame in the event that the ends of thespring and frame are made so as to be capable of turning thereon.Accordingly oil introduced. into these spaces through the passages oropenings 18 having direct access to the joints will keep the sameproperly lubricated at all times. In order to facilitate theintroduction of oil there are fastened to the bar 4 oil cups 25 whichare in direct communication with the respective passages 18. These cupsare of the usual construction.

In order to further facilitate the feeding of oil to the various jointsll prefer to locate within the spaces between the ends of the studswicks 26 designed to be saturated with oil at all times. Each of thesewicks is retained by being socketed, one end of the wick in the end ofone of the studs and the other end in the end of the adjacent stud.

i The present form of shackle is easily applied to, or removed from, thevehicle or ends of the spring and frame which it conconnects. In thisconnection it will be observed that the bolt or fastening joining theseparate side bars of the shackle does not extend through the ends ofthe spring and frame, but is entirely separate therefrom. Moreover, theconstruction is such that one half of the shackle may be removed fromthe spring and frame without disconnecting the other half, which willoperate in itself to form a temporary connection between the spring andframe until the other half orpart of the shackle has been appliedand thefastening between the two halves or parts of the shackle complete. Theconstruction is also such that an equal distribution of ing surface.Moreover, substantially all the wear will be taken up by the sleeves onthe studs and these, constituting as they do wearing parts, may beeasily renewed as occasion re uires.

aving thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLet,- ters Patent of the United States 1. In a shackle' of the characterspecified, the combination comprising spaced side bars, separate scs ofstuds carried by said bars providing bearings at the opposite endsthereof, the studs of each .of said respective sets of studs beingspaced to leave openings between the ends thereof, one of each of saidposite ends thereof, means intermediate said sets of studs connectingsaid bars and maintaining them in spaced relationship with one another,a wick located within the space between the ends of the studs of each ofthe respective sets of studs, and means whereby a lubricant may besupplied to the wicks from outside the bars.

3. In ashackle of the character specified, thecombination comprisingspaced side bars, separate sets of studs with spaced ends carried by therespective bars and providing bearings between said bars at the oppositeends thereof, means interposed between said separate sets of studsconnecting said bars and maintaining the same in spaced relationshipwith one another, and spaced sleeves arranged upon the studs of each ofsaid respective sets of studs.

4C. In a shackle of the character specified, the combination comprisingspaced side bars, separate sets of studs with spaced ends carried by therespective bars and providing bearings between said bars at the oppositeends thereof, means interposed between said ends thereof, one of each ofsaid sets of studs and bar to which said stud is secured having anopening through it communicating through the bar and stud with the spacebetween the studs whereby a lubricant may be supplied thereto fromoutside the bar, spaced sleeves carried by the respective sets of studs,each of said sleeves being provided with an annular flange, andreleasable means interposed between the sets of studs con- 10 nectingsaid bars for maintaining them and the studs carried by them in properspaced relationship to one another.

JOHN E. RYAN.

